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This busy San Angelo intersection could get a major makeover

Traffic drives past a lot, seen in this Thursday, Nov. 13, 2019 photo at left, at the intersection of Sherwood Way and Beauregard Avenue that is scheduled for development.(Photo: Colin Murphey / San Angelo Standard-Times)

SAN ANGELO — The owner of a collision repair business is one step closer to installing a two-sided digital sign at a busy intersection after City Council overturned a decision that had denied his request on the grounds of traffic safety.

On Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2019, Concho Collision & Auto Glass owner Jim Osborn stood before City Council members to request building a digital sign along the triangle split at West Beauregard and Sherwood Way.

Osborn purchased the triangular plot of land several months ago and was approved to install a static sign, but changed his mind.

In September, Osborn requested an amendment to install a digital sign on the triangle split (1909 W. Beauregard), measuring about 5-feet tall and 10-feet in width.

Planning Commission denies request

The amendment failed to pass the city's Planning Commission (2 in favor, 3 opposed), after its members expressed concern a digital sign at that location might distract drivers.

Planning & Development Services Director Jon James told city council he recommended to overturn the commission's decision and allow Osborn to install a digital sign as long as certain conditions were met.

District 6 councilwoman Billie DeWitt expressed concern about the potential risk to San Angelo drivers.

"If I remember correctly, distracted driving is the highest percentage-cause of automobile accidents," DeWitt said. "Why is staff's recommendation to allow a digital sign? ...I have a concern that it would be a distraction to have a digital sign there."

James told DeWitt her concerns were shared by the Planning Commission who denied the request, but said officials thought a digital sign could be placed at the location under the right set of circumstances.

"(The sign) would have to display a static image for at least 8-seconds ...which is according to TxDOT rules for safety — they don't like to see animation or flashing," James said. "The last condition would be to limit the brightness of the (sign) at night."

Mayor Brenda Gunter and other council members asked what kind of impact the sign might have on visibility. James said the digital sign would be located at the back of the triangle to give drivers as much visibility as possible.

Osborn presented concept slides of the digital sign for City Council to review and said visibility wouldn't be an issue for San Angelo drivers.

"From both directions, it does not block traffic views. As you're driving down the street, basically it's going to be almost like a static sign," Osborn said.

Business owner willing to adjust to ensure safety

Osborn told City Council the sign would automatically dim at night and that he was flexible toward whatever additional recommendations were made to ensure the digital sign wouldn't pose a hazard for San Angelo drivers.

"There's other things that would go with the sign," Osborn said. "We're not only trying to put a sign up for our benefit, we're trying to make this island better."

Osborn told the council he planned to invest as much as $70,000 in landscaping on the triangle as a beautification project.

"I think this project is good for the city," Osborn said. "If you look at that island, It's been vacant for ...40 years. I don't think this will be a distraction."

As a precautionary measure, City Council recommended messages on the digital sign have no animation, no scrolling text, and display messages at one-minute intervals instead of 8-seconds, to which Osborn agreed.

City Council approved Osborn's appeal and the motion passed unanimously 7-0. A second reading of the ordinance change is on the agenda for the Tuesday, Nov. 19, City Council meeting.

Watch the full City Council meeting here:

John Tufts covers enterprise and investigative topics in West Texas. Send him a news tip at JTufts@Gannett.com. Consider supporting West Texas journalism with a subscription to GoSanAngelo.com.